(a) The department, in conjunction with other public agencies, shall conduct an investigation of the state‘s groundwater basins. The department shall identify the state’s groundwater basins on the basis of geological and hydrological conditions and consideration of political boundary lines whenever practical. The department shall also investigate existing general patterns of groundwater extraction and groundwater recharge within those basins to the extent necessary to identify basins that are subject to critical conditions of overdraft.

(b) The department may revise the boundaries of groundwater basins identified in subdivision (a) based on its own investigations or information provided by others.

(c) The department shall report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature not later than January 1, 2012, and thereafter in years ending in 5 or 0.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 346, Sec. 7. (SB 1168) Effective January 1, 2015.)